~Race of the Light~
Part 3
by Ami Quinton
Notes and Asides: All characters of Flint that I use do not belong to me.
Please do not use any of my characters or ideas without my permission!
Okay now that we have that settled, Part 3 will be revealing some very interesting things about Day vampires....think you know all there is to know about them? HA! Not in my version! ^_^ And well it seems there is trouble brewing between good and evil....I hope to put some action in this part ^___^;
Rated a STRONG PG-13 for language and violence.
Onto the fic! :D
Taal hid behind the piano in the center of the living room as Trallien paced back and forth, ranting in a fury. Upstairs Merlock, Kila, and Bindi were watching him with wide eyes. What was going on?
"Wow...I don't think I have ever seen someone look so mad!" Kila commented, putting a foot hesitantly in front of her, thinking maybe she should go down and talk to him. Merlock stopped her by putting his hand on her arm. "We better stay out of this, Kila."
"He doesn't just look mad, he looks upset!" Bindi pointed out.
The tears falling from Trallien's eyes and streaming down his cheeks was proof enough of that. Kila's now sad green eyes looked at Merlock, pleading. "All right, but I'm going with you." They started down the stairwell, but slowly.
Kessa came into the room at that moment, going straight for Trallien. She immediately held him tightly, her ash blonde hair falling gently on his shoulders. "Trallien...please...this is not your fault...." He pulled away from her, sitting down right on the floor, burying his face in his hands. Kessa slowly sank to her knees, putting her arms about his muscular form once more. "Trallien..."
He finally looked at her, those brown eyes so full of sadness that they could break the heart of even the coldest soul. "Dina....only ten Kessa....ten!!" The words he spoke only caused him to break into more sobs.
"I know...but we'll have our revenge, Trallien. We will...." Her eyes narrowed. "Jurone will pay for this!"
"Master?" Taal finally came from his hiding spot, ambling over to where the two sat on the carpet.
Trallien got to his feet and picked up his loyal friend. "Go Taal....and tell me where Jurone's daughter Mia is."
With an almost wicked grin Taal nodded, and made his way over to an open window where flew away in a blur.
Kessa shook her head. "Trallien...this will do nothing to stop Jurone...and perhaps even only anger him more. Are you sure that you'd want to bring harm to Mia?"
The Lord vampire spun around, glaring at Kessa. "Don't question my motives!! And I have no intention of harming Lady Mia. I have a better plan on that!" The harshness in his tone caused Kessa to be washed in fear. She quickly left before she angered him further.
Up on the stairs our gang had gotten about halfway down when they had stopped dead in their tracks at seeing and hearing the conversation between the two. Merlock just froze in place, with Bindi at his side, but Kila, the ever brave one, finally continued down to the bottom where she approached Trallien. "Hey....what's up here? Can we help?" She spoke softly to him, as if not wanting to invade whatever control he had left with her voice.
"Perhaps...." he replied, his back still facing her.
"What happened anyway...if I may?" She continued to speak quietly.
Trallien heaved a mighty sigh and gradually turned around to her, arms folded and his eyes a bit bloodshot from the tears. "Dina...." He was having a bit of trouble talking from all the emotion.
"Yeah...you mentioned that name before. Who is she?" At this point she had signaled to Merlock as if to tell him it was safe to come down. Hesitantly the young bishounen stepped down the last few stairs, with Bindi following of course. He took his place a few feet from them.
"Dina is....was...." He nearly started crying again at that correction, "....she was a ten year old member of this clan."
"Oh gawd...you don't mean to say that...this Jurone guy...killed her??" Kila looked horrified, as did Merlock.
"Oh yes...he did. We found her, covered in her own blood, several deep wounds on her. He had bled her to death." He paused. "It is the only way we can be destroyed."
Merlock trembled at his words. "Why...would he do this? Who IS this Jurone?" He asked, finally.
"Because...he's the Lord of the Nights. And he has no soul." Trallien said those last words with powerful intensity. He meant it with all his being.
Kila's eyes were wide but also confused. "So you're saying...that he did it just because? There's no motive behind it?"
"Motive...." he repeated, shaking his head. "His only motive is to kill Day vampires so that his kind can take over, be the leading clan. But if they won they would massacre you humans, to satisfy their never-ending bloodlust. I cannot...allow that..."
Merlock suddenly looked at Trallien as if he were an honorable king, and stepped closer to him. "I want to help you Lord Trallien! How can I?" He would definitely be one to want to protect the humans...Merlock had a heart of pure gold. There wasn't an ounce of evil intention in him. At the time he was human, he may have had a few feelings of hatred, towards those who had ridiculed him, but even then he felt sorry for those souls, secretly forgiving them for their attitude. Those ruby red eyes of his glowed in their determination...
Trallien smiled at him. "Of course you can help. And well....you can go with me to Jurone's territory. Taal is going to relay a message and confirm a meeting, as well as tell me where Mia is."
"A meeting? What for?"
"Well....as foolish as this sounds...." he sat back down, but this time on his red velvet chair. "....I am going to attempt some sort of treaty for the first time. I just can't stand to see another clan member die at his hands...and perhaps there is some meaning of negotiation." He chuckled half-heartedly with a shrug. "Though I am almost sure this will fail..."
"If he's as heartless as you say he is, Trallien, I doubt it myself." Kila interjected, now looking a bit angry as if she wanted to find this Jurone right now and punch him squarely in the jaw.
Merlock shook his head. "I think it's worth a try. There's got to be something even he would agree to. There's always something that somebody wants in these matters..." Bindi elbowed him. "I'm going to!"
Trallien tilted his head at the Time Shifter. "You could be very useful...what sort of powers do you have Bindi?"
She grinned widely. "Elemental energies. I can create these light spheres that can create lightning, fire, water, even rock."
"She can control nature and sea life as well." Kila added.
Merlock smiled at his companion. Heh...if Trallien saw her Master form, what would he think then?
"Impressive...this could get interesting. " Trallien grinned slightly, but then looked serious again. "I apologize for all this...I know I said I would make your stay here interesting but, well,...I never did intend to get you involved in this whole thing."
Merlock shook his head at him. "You don't even have to explain. Considering the tragic news you were faced with today, we understand completely...and since I'm here I will do all I can to help!"
"Yeah me too!" Kila chimed in, raising her fist in the air.
Trallien smiled again, flattered by their will to help him. "Thank you. I am glad to know that----" He stopped suddenly, his eyes widening at Merlock.
The poor vampire blinked and sweatdropped bigtime. "Uhm....what?"
Kila arched a brow at Trallien for his rather sudden change of expression. She studied Merlock's face as if she should be seeing something...
"Merlock...you...you...."
"........??"
Bindi looked back and forth between the two, utterly confused.
Trallien tried to compose himself, and spoke with controlled effort. "I am sorry...I....I just realized something...my gawd I can't believe it...the...the legend...."
"Trallien chill out! What the heck are you talking about??" She rested her chin in her hand as she sat down. Merlock followed suit, his eyes focused on Trallien and waiting to hear his explanation.
"There is a legend, "He said, finally getting himself together. ", of a Day vampire who would be the only one in history to ever utilize our greatest power...."
"Really?" Kila said, obviously awestruck by this. "And what is that?"
"Our true form....a spiritual bird of light...."
Bindi blinked. "Whoa wait you mean Merlock's really a....bird?"
Merlock sweatdropped again, blinking with a nervous, confused smile.
Trallien laughed slightly. "In a sense of the word...yes. But as I said it is a being of light, a spiritual creature. It is a form many a Day vampire have tried to attain, but failed. Even I...even I have never been able to use it. But Merlock...."
He was silent, staring back to his maker.
"Now I know why your skin became blue after the transformation....it's because you, through some unknown power of the spell, were granted this incredible gift! It symbolizes the power within you..." He seemed amazed at his own words as he spoke.
"What??" Merlock looked completely shocked. "Well...what does that mean exactly?"
Bindi was floating on hearts again. Her Merlie, he was a...a super vampire! (^_^)
"That you could take out Jurone with hardly any effort...if only you could find a way to use that form." He said thoughtfully, closing his eyes to concentrate.
Kila was looking thoughtful too, as she pushed a blonde lock of hair from her eyes. "Hmmm...." She smiled suddenly. "Wow Merlie this is amazing! See I always told you that you were sumethin' special..."
He smiled at his best friend meekly. "Oh please, really...." Merlock was always too modest to ever accept such praise. "I can't even believe what I'm hearing!"
"We should not waste any more time...." Trallien said, returning to his bare feet once more. "...now that I know this, there is even a better chance of getting Jurone to surrender." He grinned. "Especially now that I know Merlock has the spirit of Taalgis."
"Taalgis??" Everyone repeated at the same time.
"Yes....Taalgis is the very one who created the spell that turns one into a Day vampire. The legend goes back many, many eons. And sorry to say, even I have no real knowledge of who...or even what he is. All I know is that I, for some reason, back in my time of the Roman age, was the one chosen to find his talisman... "He points to a bird-like claw attached to a long silver chain about his neck, " And pass on the gift to others."
Kila just shook her head. "Whoo weee.....this is a lot to try and absorb here!"
"You're telling me!" Bindi said as she again looked at Merlock with star-struck eyes.
The expression of just total bewilderment spread across Merlock's face. He was too shocked by this incredible news to speak at the moment.
"Hey Trallien, " Kila spoke up again. "Just one question...does Taal, your little vampire dragon friend, have anything to do with Taalgis? I noticed the similarity in names..."
He nodded. "Yes...Taal is really Taalgo, the guardian dragon that Taalgis created to be protector of our race. Sadly though, he seems to have lost a great deal of his power. He can change into Taalgo but it takes a lot of energy, so therefore he uses the little form that you've seen to conserve his power for when it's needed."
"Whoa!" Was all Kila could respond to that.
And just then, as if Taal heard his name being mentioned, he returned, swooping in through the window and landing gracefully. "Master! I saw the lady Mia...she is at Jurone's cave, with a few of the others. But most are gone...I fear they have went our for their nightly feeding. Jurone's probably with them." He shook his head. More humans were going to die, as they did every night by the Nights' evil hands.
Trallien looked sad again. "Well...then it's off to the caves...this is a perfect opportunity, since Jurone is away and his daughter vulnerable."
He began to move towards the door, and everyone quickly followed him. As they left, Taal perched upon his master's shoulder and whispered... "What about Kessa?"
Trallien stopped in his tracks. "I...I can't....she's carrying my child Taal...."he whispered back. "She must stay here!"
The little dragon-bat's eyes were wide. "Ohhh....I almost forgot about that..."
When the group arrived at Jurone's territory some time later, a system of caves in a mountain that he called home, it was desolate and eerily quiet. The sound of a few wolf howls could be heard. It was possible these were some of the Nights themselves. There were a few that had the ability to shift into wolf form, and they were very dangerous.
"Be wary...." Trallien warned, as they neared the major cave entrance. He glanced to his protégé. "Lead away my friend." Taal nodded and hopped down to the ground, where he scrambled off into the dark caves, only slightly illuminated by a few torches. Merlock shivered. He HATED the darkness. All his kind did.
"Do we have to go in there?" He whispered. Kila nudged him. "Wimp."
"Am not!!"
She giggled at him and followed Trallien into the foreboding place. For a while they simply walked down the dusty path, turning here and there as Taal led them, until finally they saw two guards close to where Mia was, in a cavernous part of the cave system.
Trallien motioned for the others to hide while he simply walked on, heading for the guards. Kila and Bindi ducked behind Merlock's cape as usual, which of course caused him to sweatdrop. ((^^))
The guards were chatting with each other. "So did you see the look on her face when we cut her wrist open?"
"Ha! Yeah! She screamed so loud I think I burst an eardrum!" The guard rubbed at his ear as if to prove his point.
"Ahhh....yes but her blood was sweet...I enjoyed feeling her heart stop as her body went limp---" At that moment the guard's horrid story was brought to an abrupt halt, as Trallien brought down a clawed hand with an angry snarl, slicing into his back. "AAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!"
The other guard dove at Trallien, but the Lord vampire simply teleported away so fast that he went crashing into the opposite wall, and landed in a heap.
"Ohhhh....." He groaned, and tried to get up, but he was too out of it.
Trallien used his claws again and slashed him up good, leaving the hapless Night too weak to fight anymore. Both of them were on the ground, but they wouldn't be for too long.
"C'mon hurry!" Trallien signaled to the others and they quickly ran after him, following him into the cavern and up a makeshift stairway. When they got to the top they could see Lady Mia in her room, whose beautiful furniture seemed quite ironic against the backdrop of the cave. She sat on her bed, combing her long raven-black hair, humming a tune. She was oblivious to the fact that she was about to be abducted.
"What should we do?" Questioned Merlock, as he gazed at the girl. She WAS pretty, he couldn't deny that.
"Use your charm spell on her. You're the master of them after all." Trallien replied, grinning.
"Huh? A charm spell will work on another vampire?" He said a bit dumbfounded. Kila was slyly grinning. "Your charm spell could work on ANYTHING, Merlie, with a face like yours!"
Bindi just nodded with a wide smile in pure agreement.
The bishounen vampire blushed. "Well if you think so..."
"Yes, go ahead. And make haste, those guards won't be down for much longer, and you can be sure as hell they are going to come after us!" Trallien urged him on, pushing him towards the open door.
"All right...here goes." Merlock built up his confidence and stepped inside, while the others did their best to stay out of view as they peeked in.
Mia was still humming softly when she caught the sight of something in her eye. She shot to her feet, her eyes becoming saucers as she saw Merlock. "Who...who are you?? "
He transformed his cane into a rose, one of his favorite tricks, and handed it to her. "A secret admirer, my dear. I come in peace." He smiled, purposefully allowing her to see his fangs.
Mia grinned. "Oh really? A secret admirer, huh?" She was a lonely soul, despite her beauty she had yet to know love. And well seeing the rather handsome man before her, claiming to be someone interested, made her lose her guard completely.
She was also a sucker for flattery...
"Oh yes...I have never seen such beauty before. Every night I would watch you, as you stalked the streets..." Merlock was trying to make eye contact. He didn't have to try too hard, Mia was already staring at him.
"Really?.." Foolishly she drove closer. "And what is your name, praytell?"
"What does it matter?" His eyes flashed, ensuing the spell. "Don't you want to come with me?"
Mia's eyes glazed over. She was under. "Yes...go with you...."
"Good Merlock! Now quickly let's go!!" It was Trallien. He grabbed the girl and the gang hastily headed for the exit. But just as they were nearing the exit...
"Stop right there!!! What the hell do you think you're doing???" There before them stood a man of about Trallien's height, with short rusty brown hair and piercing blue eyes. He wore a black open faced vest with leather pants and boots. The look on his face was anything but welcoming.
"Jurone..." Trallien said the name through clenched teeth. Kila stood there in awe, thinking to herself 'Are ALL vampires this good looking?? Even the evil ones?'
"Trallien. So good to see you. Now what the hell are you doing with Mia?" His voice was threatening, as he eyed the whole group.
"She's coming with me. You'll pay for what you did to my little Dina." Trallien let Mia to her feet, so that she could face Jurone. She was completely gone under Merlock's powerful charm spell and didn't struggle in the slightest, just kept a somewhat tired look on her face.
"Mia!" Jurone called in vain. He glared evilly at Trallien, baring fangs. "You had better..." He took a controlled breath. "...better NOT provoke me, dear Trallien! I will personally go out and slice up every child you have!! Dina was just the beginning!!"
Merlock was actually getting pissed off at this guy now. He stared at Jurone as if he could pierce him with his very gaze. Bindi also looked ready for battle, but then again she'd do anything Merlock would do.
The master vampire simply laughed. "Watch Jurone....want to see what our bite does to your kind?"
The Night leader fell silent, looking at Trallien as if he wouldn't dare. Everyone else was just silent.
Trallien roughly grabbed Mia from behind, pulling her head to the side by her hair. She didn't flinch in the slightest. Her eyes were focused on Merlock, the one who could make her jump off a bridge if he wanted to.
He then bit her rather brutally. Mia was still in the trance, but she screamed. Her whole body began to tremble.
"NOOO! Stop it!!" Jurone signalled for some others to attack, and they went for Trallien, snarling and with claws bared, but he simply put a hand up and blasted then away with a beam of golden light.
"Fool...your pathetic lackies don't stand a chance against me. How many years will it take for you to understand that Jurone?" He again bit Mia, and she screamed once more, but this time her skin started to shrivel up like a prune as Trallien took her lifeforce.
Merlock watched with mixed emotions. He knew he shouldn't feel for a heartless creature such as a Night vampire, but he couldn't help but feel a little bad for her...
Kila however watched with a smirk. She had no qualms with what her newfound love interest was doing.
"Dammit Trallien!! Let her go you damn asshole!!!"
He did let her go, but held her arm tightly, even though she was still under the spell and didn't attempt to go anywhere. "Did Dina plead with you like that, Jurone? And did you spare her life?" He said quietly. "Why should I spare you the agony of a loss, such as like the one you caused me?"
Jurone growled, running both hands through his hair. "I don't care...about your brats, Trallien. And oh yes she did plead for her life....and her virginity....heh...."
Whether or not he intended it, he provoked the Lord vampire's wrath at that moment. He was about to blast him....until Merlock stepped in front of him.
Kila looked at her best friend in disbelief.
"Let me handle it..." he said with a low growl.
Jurone studied Merlock up and down, then burst out laughing. "Oh! And who is this?? I've never seen such a freak in all my life!!"
Merlock ignored the insult, and took a battle stance. The Night leader just continued to laugh at him, but he followed suit into his own stance. "So you wanna party pretty boy?? Okay let's PARTY!" Jurone suddenly lept at Merlock faster then he could've expected, and sent him flying, where he crashed into the far end of the cave wall.
"Ha ha ha! Is that all you've got?"
Merlock looked a bit bruised, but he got up, those red eyes narrowing.
Trallien went to his side. "Are you all right?"
"Fine...." Merlock stepped closer to Jurone again. He took the stance once more.
"Oh this is unbelievable...pretty boy still wants to fight me. Such a shame...." Again he lept at Merlock, but this time was greatly surprised when he transported away and behind him. Jurone had barely enough time to spin around as his face was punched with enough force to knock him down.
"YEAH!! Go Merlie!" Cheered Kila. But poor Merlock was retaliated quickly as Jurone lept up and kicked him in the stomach.
"Ouch..." He fell to his knees. The blow was pretty harsh, and he clutched his abdomen.
"Awww...looks like I hurt Blue Boy here. How wrong of me."
Bindi at that point was looking all puffed up with anger. "THAT'S IT!! Bindi shapeshift to....BINDI MASTER!"
Jurone's jaw dropped as he came face to face with the angelic Time Shifter, who was now a blonde beauty with a tight-fitting outfit,wings, and a three-point crown.
"You're gonna pay for hurting Merlock you jerk!" She summoned up a Light Sphere and yelled, "LIGHTNING!!"
Jurone was struck with 10,000 volts of electricity from the sphere. He screamed and sank slowly to the ground.
One the dust cleared, everyone was sure to see the fried corpse of Jurone. But instead he was sitting there, with a very wicked grin on his face. "That ain't gonna do nothin' to me, little darling." He lept at Bindi with bared fangs, but she quickly flew up and out of the way.
"Enough of this Jurone! My intent on coming here was not to start a battle." Trallien still held Mia, who was looking weak from the blood loss.
"Well, by having the nerve to come here and try to abduct Mia, that's EXACTLY what you're doing, Trallien! Now if you're smart, you'll let her go, and I'll overlook this little incident."
Unbeknownst to Trallien and the others, someone was lurking up behind Merlock.....
"I don't think so Jurone. Not unless you agree to some sort of negotiation."
"I'm listening." There was a slight smirk on Jurone's face. He knew what was about to happen. He just needed to keep the Lord of the Days talking...and distracted long enough...
"I know that there is no way we can come to peace, but I don't want to see any more of my clan die. I'll let Mia go if you promise to stop going after them. Isn't it enough that you kill innocent humans?!"
"Pheh...humans are like cattle. Our food. That's all they are to me. But as for your precious clan members....fine Trallien...let my daughter go and it's agreed."
Trallien was about to accept and let Mia go, when he saw someone right behind Merlock, holding a large stake.
"MERLOCK!!!!!!!!"
But it was far too late. The young vampire didn't even have time to turn around, as the stake was plunged into his back and stuck out through his chest. He fell to the ground quickly.
"NOOOOOOOOOO!" Trallien took Mia and snapped her neck with a sickening crunch of bones, then went for Jurone. As the two fought viciously, Bindi and Kila rushed over to Merlock.
"Oh my god!!!! Merlock!!!" Kila sobbed, lifting him into his arms.
"Kila?!" Bindi's aqua blue eyes filled with tears. "He...he's not going to.....I mean...is he?"
"Merlie, Merlie!!!!" She continued to sob, and tried to get the stake out from his chest, but it wouldn't budge.
He looked up at her weakly. "....pain....hurts....help...." Was all he managed to say before slipping into unconsciousness. Kila simply broke into uncontrollable sobs, as well as Bindi.
Trallien flung Jurone out of the cave, where he slammed against a tree. Groaning he tried to stand, but was getting weak from the battle. For the moment he gave in and just lied there against the tree.
Trallien came up and pointed a finger in his face. "I will.....I WILL KILL YOU!!"
Taal, who had been watching the whole time from above the cave entrance, called out. "Master we have to get Merlock out of here!"
"Heh heh heh...yes Trallien, go hurry and try to save your little pretty boy." He was grinning evilly despite the fact he had been beaten up severly.
Trallien growled, his whole body shaking with anger, and with a last mighty blow to Jurone's side he finally turned to go, but looked behind his shoulder one last time..."I'll be back Jurone....you can count on it!!"
With that he quickly ran over to the gang, hovering over by Merlock by the cave's entrance and sobbing, and took him in his arms.
"We cannot waste time! Back to the castle now!!"
Taal flew off with his master, while Bindi carried Kila.
"Oh this is my fault!! I was such a fool!!!" Trallien's temper was out of control. He flung things across the room and smashed priceless artifacts. "How could I be so stupid?? HOW COULD I??" He paced back and forth through his living room.
Upstairs Merlock was lying there on the bed in his guest room, barely alive. The stake was out but he had lost alot of blood, and looked deathly pale. Bindi-Master was at his side, running a hand through his hair, still crying.
"Merlie....please....please say you'll be ok...." The concept of Merlock's death was beyond Bindi. Without him...what did she herself have to live for? She broke into uncontrollable sobs again, lying her head down on his chest.
Kila was downstairs with Trallien. She was so upset that she couldn't even speak as she stared at the floor....
"My fault Kila....my fault.....Merlock will die now and it's MY FAULT!!" He went over to the large grandfather clock and with a roar smashed it to pieces.
Kila rose to her feet, tears streaming down her cheeks, and tried to comfort Trallien who was now kneeling in the shattered glass, cutting his knees and hands but not caring. It was all she could do.
~End of Part 3~
;-; ::sniffle:: Boy I sure got heavy with the drama there didn't I! And....did I leave ya hangin' again?? MWA HA HA!! D Well let's see...some more nice reviews and I just might get out Part 4 really fast! ^.~ Thanks to everyone for reading^_^
~Ami~
Part 3
by Ami Quinton
Notes and Asides: All characters of Flint that I use do not belong to me.
Please do not use any of my characters or ideas without my permission!
Okay now that we have that settled, Part 3 will be revealing some very interesting things about Day vampires....think you know all there is to know about them? HA! Not in my version! ^_^ And well it seems there is trouble brewing between good and evil....I hope to put some action in this part ^___^;
Rated a STRONG PG-13 for language and violence.
Onto the fic! :D
Taal hid behind the piano in the center of the living room as Trallien paced back and forth, ranting in a fury. Upstairs Merlock, Kila, and Bindi were watching him with wide eyes. What was going on?
"Wow...I don't think I have ever seen someone look so mad!" Kila commented, putting a foot hesitantly in front of her, thinking maybe she should go down and talk to him. Merlock stopped her by putting his hand on her arm. "We better stay out of this, Kila."
"He doesn't just look mad, he looks upset!" Bindi pointed out.
The tears falling from Trallien's eyes and streaming down his cheeks was proof enough of that. Kila's now sad green eyes looked at Merlock, pleading. "All right, but I'm going with you." They started down the stairwell, but slowly.
Kessa came into the room at that moment, going straight for Trallien. She immediately held him tightly, her ash blonde hair falling gently on his shoulders. "Trallien...please...this is not your fault...." He pulled away from her, sitting down right on the floor, burying his face in his hands. Kessa slowly sank to her knees, putting her arms about his muscular form once more. "Trallien..."
He finally looked at her, those brown eyes so full of sadness that they could break the heart of even the coldest soul. "Dina....only ten Kessa....ten!!" The words he spoke only caused him to break into more sobs.
"I know...but we'll have our revenge, Trallien. We will...." Her eyes narrowed. "Jurone will pay for this!"
"Master?" Taal finally came from his hiding spot, ambling over to where the two sat on the carpet.
Trallien got to his feet and picked up his loyal friend. "Go Taal....and tell me where Jurone's daughter Mia is."
With an almost wicked grin Taal nodded, and made his way over to an open window where flew away in a blur.
Kessa shook her head. "Trallien...this will do nothing to stop Jurone...and perhaps even only anger him more. Are you sure that you'd want to bring harm to Mia?"
The Lord vampire spun around, glaring at Kessa. "Don't question my motives!! And I have no intention of harming Lady Mia. I have a better plan on that!" The harshness in his tone caused Kessa to be washed in fear. She quickly left before she angered him further.
Up on the stairs our gang had gotten about halfway down when they had stopped dead in their tracks at seeing and hearing the conversation between the two. Merlock just froze in place, with Bindi at his side, but Kila, the ever brave one, finally continued down to the bottom where she approached Trallien. "Hey....what's up here? Can we help?" She spoke softly to him, as if not wanting to invade whatever control he had left with her voice.
"Perhaps...." he replied, his back still facing her.
"What happened anyway...if I may?" She continued to speak quietly.
Trallien heaved a mighty sigh and gradually turned around to her, arms folded and his eyes a bit bloodshot from the tears. "Dina...." He was having a bit of trouble talking from all the emotion.
"Yeah...you mentioned that name before. Who is she?" At this point she had signaled to Merlock as if to tell him it was safe to come down. Hesitantly the young bishounen stepped down the last few stairs, with Bindi following of course. He took his place a few feet from them.
"Dina is....was...." He nearly started crying again at that correction, "....she was a ten year old member of this clan."
"Oh gawd...you don't mean to say that...this Jurone guy...killed her??" Kila looked horrified, as did Merlock.
"Oh yes...he did. We found her, covered in her own blood, several deep wounds on her. He had bled her to death." He paused. "It is the only way we can be destroyed."
Merlock trembled at his words. "Why...would he do this? Who IS this Jurone?" He asked, finally.
"Because...he's the Lord of the Nights. And he has no soul." Trallien said those last words with powerful intensity. He meant it with all his being.
Kila's eyes were wide but also confused. "So you're saying...that he did it just because? There's no motive behind it?"
"Motive...." he repeated, shaking his head. "His only motive is to kill Day vampires so that his kind can take over, be the leading clan. But if they won they would massacre you humans, to satisfy their never-ending bloodlust. I cannot...allow that..."
Merlock suddenly looked at Trallien as if he were an honorable king, and stepped closer to him. "I want to help you Lord Trallien! How can I?" He would definitely be one to want to protect the humans...Merlock had a heart of pure gold. There wasn't an ounce of evil intention in him. At the time he was human, he may have had a few feelings of hatred, towards those who had ridiculed him, but even then he felt sorry for those souls, secretly forgiving them for their attitude. Those ruby red eyes of his glowed in their determination...
Trallien smiled at him. "Of course you can help. And well....you can go with me to Jurone's territory. Taal is going to relay a message and confirm a meeting, as well as tell me where Mia is."
"A meeting? What for?"
"Well....as foolish as this sounds...." he sat back down, but this time on his red velvet chair. "....I am going to attempt some sort of treaty for the first time. I just can't stand to see another clan member die at his hands...and perhaps there is some meaning of negotiation." He chuckled half-heartedly with a shrug. "Though I am almost sure this will fail..."
"If he's as heartless as you say he is, Trallien, I doubt it myself." Kila interjected, now looking a bit angry as if she wanted to find this Jurone right now and punch him squarely in the jaw.
Merlock shook his head. "I think it's worth a try. There's got to be something even he would agree to. There's always something that somebody wants in these matters..." Bindi elbowed him. "I'm going to!"
Trallien tilted his head at the Time Shifter. "You could be very useful...what sort of powers do you have Bindi?"
She grinned widely. "Elemental energies. I can create these light spheres that can create lightning, fire, water, even rock."
"She can control nature and sea life as well." Kila added.
Merlock smiled at his companion. Heh...if Trallien saw her Master form, what would he think then?
"Impressive...this could get interesting. " Trallien grinned slightly, but then looked serious again. "I apologize for all this...I know I said I would make your stay here interesting but, well,...I never did intend to get you involved in this whole thing."
Merlock shook his head at him. "You don't even have to explain. Considering the tragic news you were faced with today, we understand completely...and since I'm here I will do all I can to help!"
"Yeah me too!" Kila chimed in, raising her fist in the air.
Trallien smiled again, flattered by their will to help him. "Thank you. I am glad to know that----" He stopped suddenly, his eyes widening at Merlock.
The poor vampire blinked and sweatdropped bigtime. "Uhm....what?"
Kila arched a brow at Trallien for his rather sudden change of expression. She studied Merlock's face as if she should be seeing something...
"Merlock...you...you...."
"........??"
Bindi looked back and forth between the two, utterly confused.
Trallien tried to compose himself, and spoke with controlled effort. "I am sorry...I....I just realized something...my gawd I can't believe it...the...the legend...."
"Trallien chill out! What the heck are you talking about??" She rested her chin in her hand as she sat down. Merlock followed suit, his eyes focused on Trallien and waiting to hear his explanation.
"There is a legend, "He said, finally getting himself together. ", of a Day vampire who would be the only one in history to ever utilize our greatest power...."
"Really?" Kila said, obviously awestruck by this. "And what is that?"
"Our true form....a spiritual bird of light...."
Bindi blinked. "Whoa wait you mean Merlock's really a....bird?"
Merlock sweatdropped again, blinking with a nervous, confused smile.
Trallien laughed slightly. "In a sense of the word...yes. But as I said it is a being of light, a spiritual creature. It is a form many a Day vampire have tried to attain, but failed. Even I...even I have never been able to use it. But Merlock...."
He was silent, staring back to his maker.
"Now I know why your skin became blue after the transformation....it's because you, through some unknown power of the spell, were granted this incredible gift! It symbolizes the power within you..." He seemed amazed at his own words as he spoke.
"What??" Merlock looked completely shocked. "Well...what does that mean exactly?"
Bindi was floating on hearts again. Her Merlie, he was a...a super vampire! (^_^)
"That you could take out Jurone with hardly any effort...if only you could find a way to use that form." He said thoughtfully, closing his eyes to concentrate.
Kila was looking thoughtful too, as she pushed a blonde lock of hair from her eyes. "Hmmm...." She smiled suddenly. "Wow Merlie this is amazing! See I always told you that you were sumethin' special..."
He smiled at his best friend meekly. "Oh please, really...." Merlock was always too modest to ever accept such praise. "I can't even believe what I'm hearing!"
"We should not waste any more time...." Trallien said, returning to his bare feet once more. "...now that I know this, there is even a better chance of getting Jurone to surrender." He grinned. "Especially now that I know Merlock has the spirit of Taalgis."
"Taalgis??" Everyone repeated at the same time.
"Yes....Taalgis is the very one who created the spell that turns one into a Day vampire. The legend goes back many, many eons. And sorry to say, even I have no real knowledge of who...or even what he is. All I know is that I, for some reason, back in my time of the Roman age, was the one chosen to find his talisman... "He points to a bird-like claw attached to a long silver chain about his neck, " And pass on the gift to others."
Kila just shook her head. "Whoo weee.....this is a lot to try and absorb here!"
"You're telling me!" Bindi said as she again looked at Merlock with star-struck eyes.
The expression of just total bewilderment spread across Merlock's face. He was too shocked by this incredible news to speak at the moment.
"Hey Trallien, " Kila spoke up again. "Just one question...does Taal, your little vampire dragon friend, have anything to do with Taalgis? I noticed the similarity in names..."
He nodded. "Yes...Taal is really Taalgo, the guardian dragon that Taalgis created to be protector of our race. Sadly though, he seems to have lost a great deal of his power. He can change into Taalgo but it takes a lot of energy, so therefore he uses the little form that you've seen to conserve his power for when it's needed."
"Whoa!" Was all Kila could respond to that.
And just then, as if Taal heard his name being mentioned, he returned, swooping in through the window and landing gracefully. "Master! I saw the lady Mia...she is at Jurone's cave, with a few of the others. But most are gone...I fear they have went our for their nightly feeding. Jurone's probably with them." He shook his head. More humans were going to die, as they did every night by the Nights' evil hands.
Trallien looked sad again. "Well...then it's off to the caves...this is a perfect opportunity, since Jurone is away and his daughter vulnerable."
He began to move towards the door, and everyone quickly followed him. As they left, Taal perched upon his master's shoulder and whispered... "What about Kessa?"
Trallien stopped in his tracks. "I...I can't....she's carrying my child Taal...."he whispered back. "She must stay here!"
The little dragon-bat's eyes were wide. "Ohhh....I almost forgot about that..."
When the group arrived at Jurone's territory some time later, a system of caves in a mountain that he called home, it was desolate and eerily quiet. The sound of a few wolf howls could be heard. It was possible these were some of the Nights themselves. There were a few that had the ability to shift into wolf form, and they were very dangerous.
"Be wary...." Trallien warned, as they neared the major cave entrance. He glanced to his protégé. "Lead away my friend." Taal nodded and hopped down to the ground, where he scrambled off into the dark caves, only slightly illuminated by a few torches. Merlock shivered. He HATED the darkness. All his kind did.
"Do we have to go in there?" He whispered. Kila nudged him. "Wimp."
"Am not!!"
She giggled at him and followed Trallien into the foreboding place. For a while they simply walked down the dusty path, turning here and there as Taal led them, until finally they saw two guards close to where Mia was, in a cavernous part of the cave system.
Trallien motioned for the others to hide while he simply walked on, heading for the guards. Kila and Bindi ducked behind Merlock's cape as usual, which of course caused him to sweatdrop. ((^^))
The guards were chatting with each other. "So did you see the look on her face when we cut her wrist open?"
"Ha! Yeah! She screamed so loud I think I burst an eardrum!" The guard rubbed at his ear as if to prove his point.
"Ahhh....yes but her blood was sweet...I enjoyed feeling her heart stop as her body went limp---" At that moment the guard's horrid story was brought to an abrupt halt, as Trallien brought down a clawed hand with an angry snarl, slicing into his back. "AAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!"
The other guard dove at Trallien, but the Lord vampire simply teleported away so fast that he went crashing into the opposite wall, and landed in a heap.
"Ohhhh....." He groaned, and tried to get up, but he was too out of it.
Trallien used his claws again and slashed him up good, leaving the hapless Night too weak to fight anymore. Both of them were on the ground, but they wouldn't be for too long.
"C'mon hurry!" Trallien signaled to the others and they quickly ran after him, following him into the cavern and up a makeshift stairway. When they got to the top they could see Lady Mia in her room, whose beautiful furniture seemed quite ironic against the backdrop of the cave. She sat on her bed, combing her long raven-black hair, humming a tune. She was oblivious to the fact that she was about to be abducted.
"What should we do?" Questioned Merlock, as he gazed at the girl. She WAS pretty, he couldn't deny that.
"Use your charm spell on her. You're the master of them after all." Trallien replied, grinning.
"Huh? A charm spell will work on another vampire?" He said a bit dumbfounded. Kila was slyly grinning. "Your charm spell could work on ANYTHING, Merlie, with a face like yours!"
Bindi just nodded with a wide smile in pure agreement.
The bishounen vampire blushed. "Well if you think so..."
"Yes, go ahead. And make haste, those guards won't be down for much longer, and you can be sure as hell they are going to come after us!" Trallien urged him on, pushing him towards the open door.
"All right...here goes." Merlock built up his confidence and stepped inside, while the others did their best to stay out of view as they peeked in.
Mia was still humming softly when she caught the sight of something in her eye. She shot to her feet, her eyes becoming saucers as she saw Merlock. "Who...who are you?? "
He transformed his cane into a rose, one of his favorite tricks, and handed it to her. "A secret admirer, my dear. I come in peace." He smiled, purposefully allowing her to see his fangs.
Mia grinned. "Oh really? A secret admirer, huh?" She was a lonely soul, despite her beauty she had yet to know love. And well seeing the rather handsome man before her, claiming to be someone interested, made her lose her guard completely.
She was also a sucker for flattery...
"Oh yes...I have never seen such beauty before. Every night I would watch you, as you stalked the streets..." Merlock was trying to make eye contact. He didn't have to try too hard, Mia was already staring at him.
"Really?.." Foolishly she drove closer. "And what is your name, praytell?"
"What does it matter?" His eyes flashed, ensuing the spell. "Don't you want to come with me?"
Mia's eyes glazed over. She was under. "Yes...go with you...."
"Good Merlock! Now quickly let's go!!" It was Trallien. He grabbed the girl and the gang hastily headed for the exit. But just as they were nearing the exit...
"Stop right there!!! What the hell do you think you're doing???" There before them stood a man of about Trallien's height, with short rusty brown hair and piercing blue eyes. He wore a black open faced vest with leather pants and boots. The look on his face was anything but welcoming.
"Jurone..." Trallien said the name through clenched teeth. Kila stood there in awe, thinking to herself 'Are ALL vampires this good looking?? Even the evil ones?'
"Trallien. So good to see you. Now what the hell are you doing with Mia?" His voice was threatening, as he eyed the whole group.
"She's coming with me. You'll pay for what you did to my little Dina." Trallien let Mia to her feet, so that she could face Jurone. She was completely gone under Merlock's powerful charm spell and didn't struggle in the slightest, just kept a somewhat tired look on her face.
"Mia!" Jurone called in vain. He glared evilly at Trallien, baring fangs. "You had better..." He took a controlled breath. "...better NOT provoke me, dear Trallien! I will personally go out and slice up every child you have!! Dina was just the beginning!!"
Merlock was actually getting pissed off at this guy now. He stared at Jurone as if he could pierce him with his very gaze. Bindi also looked ready for battle, but then again she'd do anything Merlock would do.
The master vampire simply laughed. "Watch Jurone....want to see what our bite does to your kind?"
The Night leader fell silent, looking at Trallien as if he wouldn't dare. Everyone else was just silent.
Trallien roughly grabbed Mia from behind, pulling her head to the side by her hair. She didn't flinch in the slightest. Her eyes were focused on Merlock, the one who could make her jump off a bridge if he wanted to.
He then bit her rather brutally. Mia was still in the trance, but she screamed. Her whole body began to tremble.
"NOOO! Stop it!!" Jurone signalled for some others to attack, and they went for Trallien, snarling and with claws bared, but he simply put a hand up and blasted then away with a beam of golden light.
"Fool...your pathetic lackies don't stand a chance against me. How many years will it take for you to understand that Jurone?" He again bit Mia, and she screamed once more, but this time her skin started to shrivel up like a prune as Trallien took her lifeforce.
Merlock watched with mixed emotions. He knew he shouldn't feel for a heartless creature such as a Night vampire, but he couldn't help but feel a little bad for her...
Kila however watched with a smirk. She had no qualms with what her newfound love interest was doing.
"Dammit Trallien!! Let her go you damn asshole!!!"
He did let her go, but held her arm tightly, even though she was still under the spell and didn't attempt to go anywhere. "Did Dina plead with you like that, Jurone? And did you spare her life?" He said quietly. "Why should I spare you the agony of a loss, such as like the one you caused me?"
Jurone growled, running both hands through his hair. "I don't care...about your brats, Trallien. And oh yes she did plead for her life....and her virginity....heh...."
Whether or not he intended it, he provoked the Lord vampire's wrath at that moment. He was about to blast him....until Merlock stepped in front of him.
Kila looked at her best friend in disbelief.
"Let me handle it..." he said with a low growl.
Jurone studied Merlock up and down, then burst out laughing. "Oh! And who is this?? I've never seen such a freak in all my life!!"
Merlock ignored the insult, and took a battle stance. The Night leader just continued to laugh at him, but he followed suit into his own stance. "So you wanna party pretty boy?? Okay let's PARTY!" Jurone suddenly lept at Merlock faster then he could've expected, and sent him flying, where he crashed into the far end of the cave wall.
"Ha ha ha! Is that all you've got?"
Merlock looked a bit bruised, but he got up, those red eyes narrowing.
Trallien went to his side. "Are you all right?"
"Fine...." Merlock stepped closer to Jurone again. He took the stance once more.
"Oh this is unbelievable...pretty boy still wants to fight me. Such a shame...." Again he lept at Merlock, but this time was greatly surprised when he transported away and behind him. Jurone had barely enough time to spin around as his face was punched with enough force to knock him down.
"YEAH!! Go Merlie!" Cheered Kila. But poor Merlock was retaliated quickly as Jurone lept up and kicked him in the stomach.
"Ouch..." He fell to his knees. The blow was pretty harsh, and he clutched his abdomen.
"Awww...looks like I hurt Blue Boy here. How wrong of me."
Bindi at that point was looking all puffed up with anger. "THAT'S IT!! Bindi shapeshift to....BINDI MASTER!"
Jurone's jaw dropped as he came face to face with the angelic Time Shifter, who was now a blonde beauty with a tight-fitting outfit,wings, and a three-point crown.
"You're gonna pay for hurting Merlock you jerk!" She summoned up a Light Sphere and yelled, "LIGHTNING!!"
Jurone was struck with 10,000 volts of electricity from the sphere. He screamed and sank slowly to the ground.
One the dust cleared, everyone was sure to see the fried corpse of Jurone. But instead he was sitting there, with a very wicked grin on his face. "That ain't gonna do nothin' to me, little darling." He lept at Bindi with bared fangs, but she quickly flew up and out of the way.
"Enough of this Jurone! My intent on coming here was not to start a battle." Trallien still held Mia, who was looking weak from the blood loss.
"Well, by having the nerve to come here and try to abduct Mia, that's EXACTLY what you're doing, Trallien! Now if you're smart, you'll let her go, and I'll overlook this little incident."
Unbeknownst to Trallien and the others, someone was lurking up behind Merlock.....
"I don't think so Jurone. Not unless you agree to some sort of negotiation."
"I'm listening." There was a slight smirk on Jurone's face. He knew what was about to happen. He just needed to keep the Lord of the Days talking...and distracted long enough...
"I know that there is no way we can come to peace, but I don't want to see any more of my clan die. I'll let Mia go if you promise to stop going after them. Isn't it enough that you kill innocent humans?!"
"Pheh...humans are like cattle. Our food. That's all they are to me. But as for your precious clan members....fine Trallien...let my daughter go and it's agreed."
Trallien was about to accept and let Mia go, when he saw someone right behind Merlock, holding a large stake.
"MERLOCK!!!!!!!!"
But it was far too late. The young vampire didn't even have time to turn around, as the stake was plunged into his back and stuck out through his chest. He fell to the ground quickly.
"NOOOOOOOOOO!" Trallien took Mia and snapped her neck with a sickening crunch of bones, then went for Jurone. As the two fought viciously, Bindi and Kila rushed over to Merlock.
"Oh my god!!!! Merlock!!!" Kila sobbed, lifting him into his arms.
"Kila?!" Bindi's aqua blue eyes filled with tears. "He...he's not going to.....I mean...is he?"
"Merlie, Merlie!!!!" She continued to sob, and tried to get the stake out from his chest, but it wouldn't budge.
He looked up at her weakly. "....pain....hurts....help...." Was all he managed to say before slipping into unconsciousness. Kila simply broke into uncontrollable sobs, as well as Bindi.
Trallien flung Jurone out of the cave, where he slammed against a tree. Groaning he tried to stand, but was getting weak from the battle. For the moment he gave in and just lied there against the tree.
Trallien came up and pointed a finger in his face. "I will.....I WILL KILL YOU!!"
Taal, who had been watching the whole time from above the cave entrance, called out. "Master we have to get Merlock out of here!"
"Heh heh heh...yes Trallien, go hurry and try to save your little pretty boy." He was grinning evilly despite the fact he had been beaten up severly.
Trallien growled, his whole body shaking with anger, and with a last mighty blow to Jurone's side he finally turned to go, but looked behind his shoulder one last time..."I'll be back Jurone....you can count on it!!"
With that he quickly ran over to the gang, hovering over by Merlock by the cave's entrance and sobbing, and took him in his arms.
"We cannot waste time! Back to the castle now!!"
Taal flew off with his master, while Bindi carried Kila.
"Oh this is my fault!! I was such a fool!!!" Trallien's temper was out of control. He flung things across the room and smashed priceless artifacts. "How could I be so stupid?? HOW COULD I??" He paced back and forth through his living room.
Upstairs Merlock was lying there on the bed in his guest room, barely alive. The stake was out but he had lost alot of blood, and looked deathly pale. Bindi-Master was at his side, running a hand through his hair, still crying.
"Merlie....please....please say you'll be ok...." The concept of Merlock's death was beyond Bindi. Without him...what did she herself have to live for? She broke into uncontrollable sobs again, lying her head down on his chest.
Kila was downstairs with Trallien. She was so upset that she couldn't even speak as she stared at the floor....
"My fault Kila....my fault.....Merlock will die now and it's MY FAULT!!" He went over to the large grandfather clock and with a roar smashed it to pieces.
Kila rose to her feet, tears streaming down her cheeks, and tried to comfort Trallien who was now kneeling in the shattered glass, cutting his knees and hands but not caring. It was all she could do.
~End of Part 3~
;-; ::sniffle:: Boy I sure got heavy with the drama there didn't I! And....did I leave ya hangin' again?? MWA HA HA!! D Well let's see...some more nice reviews and I just might get out Part 4 really fast! ^.~ Thanks to everyone for reading^_^
~Ami~
